A complete Mercury ban has now been introduced in French Guyana (1st January 2006), to end the serious health issues which can result from its use in small scale gold recovery techniques. The problem is serious throughout the Amazon region, with pollution into waterways creating a major impact. In French Guyana alone almost 100,000 people benefit directly or indirectly from these small scale gold recovery operations. Approximately 40 tonnes of gold is mined annually throughout the region of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana), with corresponding high use of mercury.

Following a relationship with Rexma Equipements, of Cayenne, the use of simple gravity table techniques are being adopted as one attractive solution for the generally small scale mining licences.

Rexma have set up a complete testing and demonstration facility using a Holman 2000 gravity table. The unique performance possible, can provide excellent recovery of even the finest gold particles, and initial comparative testing at a remote primary gold operation demonstrated that the equipment can closely match the recoveries possible from the now banned mercury amalgam processes.